Earl Hood

1 hour ago, Biffen said:

This could pan out well.

My sauce tells me he could add some flavour to the mix.

Have you taken up cooking classes Biff? 

9 minutes ago, Demonland said:

We've got to work on holding the ball in our forward line. Leaks like a sieve. 

Need to work on our tackling to prevent the opposition getting the ball out cleanly so often. 

Umpires obsessed with the push in the back rule! Any tackle that ends up with the tackler on top of the tackled, no matter how they got there is adjudged in the back! Ridiculous but it has been working to our favour this match. Glad I am not a defender these days. 

3 hours ago, DemonOX said:

Thanks Earl. Vets are nice cars to drive. 

the above continues to concern me greatly. It’s something we don’t seem to be able to get out of our game. it also has been reported on other training threads too. 
 

Goody seemed happy with the drills. This is also concerning. 
 

God help us this season. 

DemonOX yes Vettes are great to drive, do you drive the Camaro shown in your avatar? 

10 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Sooo what's happened to Kozzy Pickett?

Has he been sighted at this week at training?

I think someone said he was given leave to go home for family issues? I was looking for him at training but didn’t notice him as I was looking to see if they would use him as a designated line breaker in the match sim today as we had heard from earlier track watchers. Didn’t see that. 

1 minute ago, Pates said:

Well this has been a crap week for our forward line, particularly as a strong start is so important to the success of our year. Poor Weid, he was putting in so much hard work and now he'll have to start all over again.

Tommy has gone from being on the fringes (possibly playing wing), to competing for the other spot in the forward line, to now once again being our focal point. Welcome back to 2019 ?.

 

Yes thankfully we kept Tom. We are now looking at Tommy, Petty, Mitch Brown and Luke Jackson as key forwards, aligned with Fritsch, Tracc, Melchum as mid sized forwards with Spargo, Kossie, Nibbler as crumbers.... it’s not the end of the world if our midfield dominance continues into 2021 and you know we get that connection between mids and forwards functioning. 

3 hours ago, 58er said:

Thanks EH  good update and hope you enjoyed your lunch.

its perplexing why we can't get some players disposal issues Solved

A game plan can't work without reasonable disposal. 

I thought Choco was the kicking expert so what's happening there?

If Salem  can do it and Trac Does it automatically ( instinctly) then others should be able to improve.

Hope we don't ruin the new recruits that are Good disposers with all our rushed play on drills.

Lets look for some improvement In this over the next 4/5 weeks.

Thanks Again  EH.

I think the real key from these drills is to get the players to present and give the ball carrier multiple options hopefully within 20 to 25m. Most of our players should be able to deliver a low trajectory pass to a target 20m away, surely. One of our deficiencies I believe in recent years has been players not presenting ahead of the ball carrier coming out of defence, hence the long bomb or hopeful 45m speared pass that gets intercepted. There are only 2 or 3 guys in any side that can deliver this miracle pass onto a team mate’s chest. So you need multiple options, short, long or wide. That was the great value Langdon brought to us last year, he always positioned himself on the wing to be a sideways option for the ball carrier. That made us a much better side and we needed the same on the other wing. It gives the ball carrier confidence to take on the opposition, knowing they will always have an outlet thru Langdon. If you can get others to always provide escape options, ball carriers will take the game on more and more. That’s my theory anyway. 

Beautiful day for a drive so I decided to take the Corvette out for a test drive and headed down the Eastern to the Monash and on to Cranbourne. Got there late but watched for about 50 minutes or so from behind the bloody fence! I found it difficult to identify the newbies during the session and one group kept their yellow tops on for the whole session, so no numbers. Conditions were near perfect, the ground surface looks superb, it was sunny, warm and there was no wind! Very odd conditions for Casey. 
 

They were doing full ground ball movement when I arrived, then broke into 3 groups, 2 doing the handball keeping off routine that has been described in other training reports, the 3rd group included the big boys, Max, Bradtke, TMac and LJ contesting marks and kicking passes back to Farmer, Harmes, Jetta. They then moved to another full ground more contested, ball movement exercise, yellows vs blues. This went for two 10 minute halves. 
 

one group was doing exercises off to the side for most of the session, Viney and Gus in a harness pulling weights up and down the boundary. AVD, Weideman, Chandler, Mitch Brown, Petty, Smith  all working hard on a weights circuit that looked punishing. Melchum was in and out of routines, then doing laps, then disappeared into the gym. 

The last full ground contest was interesting, they are certainly looking sharp and energetic, they all look to be in great shape. But as this routine progressed I found it was a mix of the good and the average. Players at times missed targets, turning the ball over at worst or picked a poor option passing to a player that was clear but because the delivery was not to his advantage, too high or to the wrong side, defenders were able to make ground to intercept or punch the ball away. The other disturbing thing for me anyway was that I don’t believe I saw a goal kicked from beyond 25m in this exercise. Shots on the run from 35m missed, the few set shots from 35 to 40 looked like they missed as well. However Goody was watching this intently and seemed pleased with the play, he only pulled play up once and reset everyone because maybe there were players out of position?  As I say the ball movement looks good but there was a lack of polish given the contest meter was at about 70% compared to game day but of course the coaches may be urging them to push their ball movement skills to their limits.
 

Individual observations:

 LJ took a screamer on top of Jonesy, who ended up face planted in the turf but got up OK. He is moving very well and has clean hands.

May and Lever on opposing sides were each standouts for their defences, May took a great pack mark, one handed, played on and passed off to an opponent unfortunately.

TMac generally playing forward of centre, he did some nice things, he does seem to be moving better this year, still managed to get tackled, holding the ball when he took on one defender too many. What’s new? You always have your heart in your mouth when Tommy decides to take on the opposition with ball in hand. 
 

I think it was Rivers for the yellows who took on all comers from half back to sprint past 2 or 3 blues and deliver a pass to the forward pocket. Very impressive piece of play. 

Bradtke took a couple of nice pack grabs and competed well against Max at the centre ball ups, umpired by Jordon Lewis. He just might develop into something. He has always had skills and agility just seemed he needed to put on some muscle and learn to throw his weight around. 
Salem stood out as the link man when the yellows were transitioning the ball from defence to attack, he had a lot of it and I don’t think he made a false move all session. Best on ground today. 

Rosman took a good contested grab up forward for the blues and had a set shot from 45, it was close and no problem with the distance.

That’s about it, sorry with half the guys in yellow and often on the other side of the ground I could not identify many of thee new guys.

As I left most were doing goal kicking practice and the rehab guys were still busting their guts on the weights circuit. 

It was time to head off to Tooradin and lunch at the Jetty Cafe! The Vette never missed a beat
 

35 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Come on you blokes, up here the snakes  regularly attend footy training, then hitch a ride on your trailer or  under the bonnet, come out after dark and then come in and sleep in the couch if the door's left open and three months later come out and go the side door to be let out...fact.

Love metre boxes, hanging out of trees and cars.

I was once told by a local that every house in Daintree had a python living in the roof space! 

1 hour ago, Hellish Inferno said:

To track watchers, thank you, but I have a question.

Would you say that we appear to be training "systems" in drills? In other words, are the coaches teaching specific positioning and player movement in certain scenarios. The best teams are the ones that are well drilled and play a recognisable system that the players "get" and can execute. I hope Yze brings some great knowledge from the Hawks, but equally he has a way of teaching that drills in a system.

I often get the feeling our players are just running around like u12's and have vague instructions like "create space" or "block for your teammate". The problem is our midfield often get in each others way. So many times we play good teams where the players know when and where to go. It's concerning to hear of too many handballs to players who aren't really clear and therefore requires extra evasion to get clear. Or maybe we're just so great at defence?!

Given how professional the league is these days, and the staff, time and technology available, I imagine they would already be doing this. The problem is I don't really see it in games

Having watched training regularly in previous seasons at Gosch’s and then watching in dismay at some of our match day efforts I have regularly commented on Dland that these guys are not playing as they train. The mid/forward disconnect that is talked about ad nauseam, you know the running forward and attacking in straight, predictable lines, the long bombing to the square, when the forwards have led out of the square, etc, etc. You don’t see that at training in game simulations, it is all about unpredictable ball movement, looking for free and short options, constant movement. Come game day against a good opponent this all disappears at least in the past 2 seasons. Maybe this is the year it all starts to work. 

13 minutes ago, sue said:

I wouldn't mind paying on a pay per view basis, but I do object to paying a large fee to sign up to 'plans' where I am paying for stuff I have no interest in.  I have zero interest in any sport other than AFL.  But Kayo has me effectively helping pay for loads of sports and guff which I don't want. Ditto for Foxtel.   It's like going to the supermarket wanting to buy just a can of beans but being forced to buy all the canned food in the supermarket, none of which I eat. 

I may be unusual in following only one sport, but I suspect a lot of people are interested in only a small handful of sports but are forced to pay for dozens, including farnarkeling.  (Actually I would pay for that.)

I believe the new national Women’s Farnarkeling League matches will be televised by SBS this year! 

On 12/17/2020 at 10:29 AM, dieter said:

His suitability and 'structural' problems set in when Mister Jacovich arrived. It meant they couldn't play Bennet at Full Forward.

Exactly. Poor Bennet was forced out to CHF and never was the same again. He wasn’t mobile enough nor a great overhead mark. Given he could kick goals from 60 m you would think it would have worked, if only he could get the ball. 

One interesting observation from Stinga was about Kossie in a one off white top in the 3/4 field ball movement exercise. He seems to be used as a go to option with a directive to take on the defenders. That is get the ball to Kossie around the centre for him to run and break the lines at all costs. I will be interested to hear if future track watchers observe the same tactics as it may mean they are looking to play Kossie further up the field so he can use his speed to more advantage. 

Here is another blues guitarist I have discovered in lockdown. Gary Clark Jr. He does know how to play a guitar I think. Cool dude! Here is Bright Lights. 
 

7 hours ago, Macca said:

This 60 minute podcast takes you inside the Congress building as the unruly mob were taking control ... first hand accounts with frightening (real) audio emanating from the perpetrators throughout

Most inside the building would have been fearing for their lives with Vice President Pence (amongst many others) only minutes away from being ambushed.  Many other high profile targets from both sides of the house were being hunted down by these crazed imbeciles.  Policemen beating into other policemen (that did happen by many reports)  Utter chaos

Four hours of insurrection (A must listen IMV)

 

Still haven’t seen a good explanation as to why the insurrection failed. Yes most were there to cause some trouble, do a bit of looting and take selfies but there were a number of well armed, military trained groups determined to take hostages and it appears they had inside intelligence, they had maps of tunnels and help from some of the defenders. The defenders were undermanned, unprepared and abandoned by whoever should have deployed the National Guard, and the FBI who were warned of what was brewing but appears to have done nothing. Is it a case that if only the mob threatening the Capitol had been Muslim, Latino, Black or Communist we would have been ready? For some reason the well armed mob was halted by a few brave officials barricaded behind a door armed with pistols. 

If ever a US disaster needs to be forensically investigated, it’s this one. 

Here is a bit of Jimmy and Joe. Jimmy’s daughter does backing vocals for Joe as well. What a voice, what guitar work! 

Here is another Joe classic performed at the Sydney Opera House

Don’t know why I hadn’t come across Joe earlier but he does some great guitar work! 

Hello! Where is everyone? 

Really hope we get to see what Jackson has to offer this year. 
 

Kozzie to really grow into the defensive forward, crumbing role

Tracc to move up to Dusty level

someone to make the other wing their own to compliment Langdon - TMacc, Hunt, Smith???

9 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

We don’t need 2 small forwards. We do need 2 good kicks. Plenty of other needs if we really wanted to patch holes in the 22 

How many small forwards do we need? Kossie, Spargo, ANB, Chandler, Viney, who I would like to see play as a defensive forward/mid, Bedford, Hunt....now two more! 

8 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Not sure where you heard that mate, most things I've heard or read have been the complete opposite.

Looks ok to me...

https://www.afl.com.au/video/494485/classy-laurie-has-plenty-of-tricks?videoId=494485&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1598277600001

Yes never heard of draftee, no matter the pick number not having skills! It’s about deciphering the code. What’s the old one, if the player’s assets are footy smarts and quick hands it means the player is as slow as treacle across the ground. They are all potential champions until they are tested in their first season or two, then the failure/delist rate is what 30%? 

I read where the Tigers have emphasised the importance of using mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety, improve focus on the present etc. They also promoted the importance of enjoying the experience with their light hearted joking in the pre-start huddles when opposition teams are doing the opposite, revving themselves up as if they are going into battle. Whatever the Tigers are doing psychologically, it is working a treat. 

35 minutes ago, Elegt said:

no idea how this guy got another contract. he is probably the most uninspiring players on the list. He tries hard but is too timid and afraid of contact, and is way too short to have any meaningful impact on the game.

I can see your point but watching him this year I started to change my former opinion of Charlie as an undersized forward option with poor tackle pressure, no explosive pace and not many other tricks. He does have a good footy brain, he knows where to position himself for the fall of the ball,  he can kick a goal and I think he will develop the ability to stick tackles. He also seems to have a good attitude.  I am a convert that the Spargo experiment could work. 

6 minutes ago, Grr-owl said:

We still have Mitch Brown as well.... Given the potential for confusion, I suggest we refer to Ben Brown as Brown1 and Mitch Brown as Brown2. Both could be abbreviated further for typing ease to B1 and B2.

 

Mitch arrived at MFC first so he should be B1 and Ben B2! That would be less confusing.